The Latest Snapchat Rip-Off Is Skype Highlights

Clones of Snapchat'due south popular Stories feature have been showing upwards inside other apps left and right this year, leading some people to joke that things like pregnancy tests, graphing calculators, and Excel will soon feature them.

As it turns out, that last prediction isn't as well far off, because Microsoft has indeed ripped off the stories concept for one of its products: not Excel, but Skype.

Skype Highlights The Skype team on Thursday introduced the "next generation" of its platform, complete with a "new characteristic" dubbed Highlights. But the idea backside Highlights isn't all that new.

"Highlights lets you create a highlight reel of your day with photos and videos, so you can share everyday moments," the team explained. If that sounds familiar information technology'south considering it's basically the same thing as Snapchat Stories, the feature rival social network Facebook has been ruthless and unapologetic about ripping off and integrating into its own apps equally of late, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

To share a Highlight on Skype, swipe to access your camera, have a photo or video, then post it for all your contacts to meet, or ship it directly to specific people or groups. Friends and family tin react to your story with emoticons or with a message.

"The new Skype is your canvas, and at present you're free to share in more expressive ways with your closest friends, family and groups," the team wrote.

The new Skype likewise makes it easier to connect with brands via bots and add together-ins, and search via a revamped "Find" console.

"Looking for seats to a big game? Pull ticket pricing and seating options directly into the chat with the StubHub bot," the Skype team wrote. "Trying to find the perfect recipe for the brunch you lot're hosting? Discover the latest trends with the BigOven add-in. Planning a weekend getaway with erstwhile friends? Chat with the Expedia bot to bank check flight times and pricing."

Skype is rolling out this new version worldwide, first today on mobile. It should reach all Android devices over the "coming weeks" and iPhones later on that. Over the next few months, Skype plans to update its Windows and Mac apps with these features equally well.

Nearly Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's good on fitness and smart dwelling products. Instruction yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of continued health products including fettle trackers, heart charge per unit monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, force training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela too tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.